Officials: Tourist Struck & Killed By SEPTA Train In Philadelphia In 'Tragic Accident'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- SEPTA was on scene investigating near 12th and Market Streets in Center City on Tuesday. They were looking into a report of a person on the tracks in between 11th and 13th Street stations.
According to SEPTA officials, a 55-year-old man was struck and killed on the tracks. Police say that shortly before 5:00 p.m., the man fell on the Market-Frankford Line tracks at 13th Street. A SEPTA spokesperson says that foul play is not believed to have been involved and that they are looking into the possibility that the man fell as they try to determine the cause.
Police say that the man was standing on the westbound platform, with his wife, waiting for the train. They say that he was in town, visiting from Texas. Witnesses told police that the man walked out to the platform and stuck his head down to see if a train was coming.
They added that he lost his balance and fell onto the tracks, just before the train came down the tracks. Medics arrived on the scene and pronounced the man dead at 5:25 p.m. At this time, police described the situation as a tragic accident.
SEPTA was forced to shutdown train service on the Market-Frankford line.
The service was shutdown between 30th Street and Spring Garden stations in both directions. Shuttle buses were run along that route for the time being.
Around 6:30 p.m., SEPTA announced that service had been restored, but that trains were bypassing the 13th Street Station due to the investigation. Passengers have been warned that there may be service delays.
Trolley service will also bypass 13th Street Station.
